Seven points had lain between arch-rivals Milan and Inter, who have been resurgent for years, before this 175th Derby della Madonnina in Serie A And seven points it was after an intense 90 minutes in which there really was a lot going on. Keywords: penalty, own goal, penalty, chances, Ibrahimovic, post.
There is always a lot of prestige at stake in a Derby della Madonnina, because both clubs are once again at the top of Italian football and there is also a lot of explosive sporting action. Nevertheless, such top matches between arch-rivals often degenerate into manageable duels full of feeling and with only a few highlights.
Not so this time in the 175th Serie A edition of this classic: First of all, Milan professional Kessié lost the ball very early against Calhanoglu, clumsily followed up and directly caused a penalty kick. The former Karlsruhe, Hamburg and Leverkusen player Calhanoglu, who joined the city rivals this summer from the Rossoneri, took the kick himself and scored in the centre for 1:0 (11th minute).
Milan’s answer was not long in coming, however: Tonali crossed a standard dangerously inside and found the head of opposite number de Vrij, who was unfortunate and unstoppable for keeper Handanovic to nod into his own net for 1-1 (17th). And because the Rossoneri, who were actually better in terms of play, could also rely on their own goalkeeper Tatarusanu after another mistake (26th, Ballo-Touré misjudged and caused the second penalty of the evening against Darmian) – the Romanian made a strong save against Lautaro Martinez, who was shooting this time (27th) – they went into the break with a 1-1 score. Also because Barella (44.) and Lautaro (45.) still missed.
“Ibra” and Saelemaekers are annoyed
The second 45 minutes, meanwhile, could not keep up the entertaining pace of the first, with both teams now levelling each other out. Nevertheless, there were opportunities, especially for FC Internazionale: But Lautaro (55.), Calhanoglu (56.) and Joker Vidal (72.) all missed the 2:1. On the other side, Ibrahimovic, who was often frustrated by the lack of passes, made his presence felt with an attempt at an artistic shot (69th minute).
Whoever thought that the Nerazzurri would start the final offensive against a tired Rossoneri, was wrong. It was the clever substitutions of AC coach Stefano Pioli that suddenly made his charges the ones who wanted – and almost got – the 2:1. But both Ibrahimovic with a free-kick hammer (82nd) and Joker Saelemaekers with a shot against the post and a subsequent miss by Kessié (90th) left the possible victory unanswered.
Overall, however, the 1-1 draw in this 175th Serie A encounter between the two traditional clubs was fully justified, which at the same time did not result in a major extension at the top: Napoli (1-1 against Hellas) first, Milan equal on points (32 each) and behind them champions Inter with a seven-point gap. Atalanta Bergamo, in fourth place, were able to close the gap on the trio.
